How do you start your backswing

scubapro

I am interested in how boardies start their backswing, what do you focus on or what is the first move, for instance I would say most golfers feel their left shoulder starting the takeaway, others probably left arm or left hand , others maybe use the right shoulder, does anyone use their right hand to start their takeaway, I am sure some of you are familiar with perfectgolfswingreview.net and this feeling is advocated in this review paper, I was trying this it home and it seemed to get the club in a good position at the end of the takeaway, hopefully hit a few balls later this week but in the meantime you guys have any thoughts or theories on the takeaway

spacecoyote

Can't say that I'm specifically conscious of a specific body part starting my backswing, I'm mainly focussed on the angle I want to take the club away to promote a specific share to my swing, ie taking it back flatter to hit a draw, steeper to promote a fade.

I suppose if you pushed me is say its my left arm that leads the takeaway, but I try not to be too focussed on specific body parts through my swing as when I get too obsessed with the small details it just cripples my swing.

DuckSlice

i just imagine a point 18 inches behind the ball and take the clubhead over that! like spacecoyote im not really thinking what moves first, would certainly hope that it all moves together, arms and shoulder at the same time!

Barnaboy

Take the advice that everyone gives here. Don't ever think about swing mechanics during a swing. Always a bad idea. Learn the basics of a good swing from a pro, practice it incessantly until it feels normal. Then have a pre-shot routine that is consistent. Always have clear, positive thought about exactly what you want to do and just let your body do it.

I always find that your best shots happen when relaxed and focused. Never be afraid or embarrassed to step away from the ball after addressing it, if it doesn't feel right.

It's so easy to try too hard and force shots.

Now to figure out why I don't follow my own advice

Keano

By trying to copy this

realgolfgeek

Barnaboy wrote: »

Don't ever think about swing mechanics during a swing.

No offense, but that's shocking advice !!!!!!

How do you practice ? Hit and Hope ?
You have to have a thought or two about your mechanics!

For Paws

Most folk have a 'trigger' move which starts the entire swing.
For some people it's a waggle of the club, for others it's a slight forward 'press' with the hands.

I'd 'build in' some kind of trigger move that tells your brain to start your swing into your set up.

But as Barnaboy said earlier, never be afraid to step away from the shot if you feel you're not 'right'.

(Knew a lad years ago who used to mutter something under his breath right before he swung. People would ask him what it was & he'd just laugh it off and say it wasn't anything really. Eventually (in drink) he told me.
'Oklahoma' he said. He explained that saying it in a particular way - OK LA HOM A - where OK was his backswing, LA the beginning of his downswing, HOM was the acelaration, and A the contact with the ball. Weird ?. It worked for him.)

Anatom

Carefully, that's how! Oh, and slowly too - every time I pull back too quickly something goes wrong...

realgolfgeek

Anatom wrote: »

Carefully, that's how! Oh, and slowly too - every time I pull back too quickly something goes wrong...

hmmm......erotica.

GreeBo

realgolfgeek wrote: »

hmmm......erotica.

Dont be so Silly, otherwise we will have to send you to a Dr.!

Hijpo

I focus on moving my right hand away first, i feel doing this gets my body to turn together and not just my arms moving without a rotation. It sets the club face verticle to the ground and the shaft parrallel(sp?) to my feet alot easier.

For me anyway.

Barnaboy

realgolfgeek wrote: »

No offense, but that's shocking advice !!!!!!

How do you practice ? Hit and Hope ?
You have to have a thought or two about your mechanics!

Obviously disagree! On the swing, of course you think about it during practice. But my point is that you should visualise the shot, the flight and where it will land and finish. I have read this from multiple sources, it is not my personal opinion.

Quotation from 'Golf is not a game of perfect' by Dr. Bob Rotella, probably the world's most famous golf coach: (page 41)

A golfer must train his swing and trust it.....The fact is, most amateurs don't know exactly what breaks down when they swing badly. If they try to correct their swing, they usually compound the error. They would be far better off forgetting about their swing mechanics, thinking about appropriate targets and strategy, and making their mind up that they will shoot the best score possible with the swing they brought to the course that day. yet this notion of trusting the swing strikes many weekend golfers as difficult, if not impossible.

Do I find it difficult to follow this advice? Damn right I do, but I do try! When you are on a hot streak you rarely give your swing a second thought.

jamesbondings

Recently i have been trying new approaches to the traditional golf swing, the happy gilmore i found was too uncertain and had a tendancy to fly anywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz7Yx2xczE4

this however is better for me, no backswing golf swing!

im too poor at golf to give advice to anyone but found this video just an hour ago and thought it apt!

Creasy_bear

Low and slow. Brush the grass as you take the club back. Stops me from picking the club up. Here's a drill for you.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5LZo2ts4C-o

WacoKid

Start backswing with a forward press. By this you move your hands and right knee slightly towards the target. This sets you up for a good position to transfer your weight to the right side.

If you watch most pro golfers on TV you can see a subtle forward press before taking the club away.

shamco

etxp wrote: »

i just imagine a point 18 inches behind the ball and take the clubhead over that! like spacecoyote im not really thinking what moves first, would certainly hope that it all moves together, arms and shoulder at the same time!

I tried this at the range and am hitting the ball a mile. However I find it difficult to keep the club going back straight for 18 inches

Rikand

scubapro wrote: »

I am interested in how boardies start their backswing, what do you focus on or what is the first move, for instance I would say most golfers feel their left shoulder starting the takeaway,

never ever thought of doing this

until I read this post yesterday and played yesterday thinking to myself : "Left shoulder moves first " - After pulling it for the first couple of holes, I adjusted and then proceeded to absolutely rip the ball!

Thanks for the thought scuba

mag

left shoulder dip for me

rollotomasi

Ideally, i try to think of nothing other then the target when out on the course - the swing path will look after itself.
Work on the mechanics when beating balls at the range...

TheDoc

Make sure my right elbow is staying close to my body, club head moving a few CM straight back then starting to move in the shape of a draw.

Personally I'm more concentrated on making sure the impact and the second after are correct. If I get back square to the ball I can hit a hook. Flip my wrists and I can hit a snap hook or straight left. Get it just right I hit my nice new draw

Mr. Larson

Never thought about it. Picked up a club today and it seems it's my left hand (I'm right handed) that initiates the swing. Seem to have a more than a good bit of wrist break in my swing which I just discovered when trying this. Just shows ya you're better off not knowing and just doing

Almaviva

scubapro wrote: »

for instance I would say most golfers feel their left shoulder starting the takeaway,

This is effectively the thrust of The Golf Secret by H.A. Murray (a celebrated book once upon a time - well worth a read today). He would have liked you scubapro.
In fact, it advises left shoulder as the point on which to focus control throughout the whole swing.

GreeBo

shamco wrote: »

I tried this at the range and am hitting the ball a mile. However I find it difficult to keep the club going back straight for 18 inches

If you are trying to keep it straight then you are coming out of plane.

all I think of is keeping the club on plane, in to in swing.

Ilik Urgee

I try to move the clubhead with the wrists just before shoulder turn. My main swing thought is stretch those forearm muscles to the max.

Wilbert13

Low and slow for me

scubapro

Lots of interesting answers,just goes to show that feel is subjective and there are a number of ways to get into the right position at the top of the swing.(on the presumption you all get there:D) I am always tinkering but usually just focus on the left side though sometimes I find myself too far inside I also have a tendancy to follow the clubhead back sometimes:eek: anyway last night I played Luttrellstown and from the off decided to just swing and trust it, no focus on anything and was striking the ball crisply no hooks or strong draws, actually played quite well. I also tried to really relax the arms, I sometimes have my left arm on top of my pec and as such it stiffens up as sometimes trying too hard to be connected, It's also interesting to see that most golfers actually do focus on a specific feel,body part, trigger to commence their takeaway.
Feel free to add to the list guys


Left arm
Straight back
Slowly
Right hand
Low and slow
Forward press
Left shoulder dip
Right elbow close to side
Left hand
Early wrist break
Just swing

GreeBo

scubapro wrote: »

Left arm
Straight back
Slowly
Right hand
Low and slow
Forward press
Left shoulder dip
Right elbow close to side
Left hand
Early wrist break
Just swing

So your 11th swing thought on your backswing alone is "just swing"?:D

scubapro

GreeBo wrote: »

So your 11th swing thought on your backswing alone is "just swing"?:D

Greebo that's normally past your bedtime, you must of been out for a few scoops:)

TheDoc

Well turns out yesterday, through a little bit of mucking about and placing tees around golf balls, that I;ve forgotten a pretty vital part of the swing, the follow through :O

Was having the last few weeks these dramatic slingshot draws and hooks, had no idea why. Turns out at impact my club head was about ready to wrap around for the finish.

**** the amount of stuff in a golf swing...